The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter space mission was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral in February 2020. Since then, it has been winding its way into the inner solar system through a series of gravity-assists with Earth and Venus.

From March 11 to April 25, 2025, Solar Orbiter is in the “remote-sensing window (RSW)”, reaching a distance of 0.29 AU (43 million km) from the Sun on March 31. This close proximity to the Sun will allow Solar Orbiter to take high-resolution images of the Sun’s surface and atmosphere, and hopefully to observe a few high-energy solar flares.

Researchers at DIAS will be supporting Solar Orbiter’s campaign using the Irish LOFAR station at Birr Castle Demesne. Coordinated Solar Orbiter and I-LOFAR observations can give a unique insight into solar eruptions and the energetic particles that can be associated with them.

As of today, March 14, there have been a number of small solar flares, which I-LOFAR has observed, but no big ones just yet.

Over the coming weeks, DIAS Research Fellow, Mohamed Nedal, and DIAS/DCU PhD Scholar, Catherine Cuddy, will be keeping a close eye on the radio telescope and solar activity – fingers crossed for a few big flares!